Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Earth Etudes for Elul 5772

Rosh Chodesh for the month of Elul, 5772, lasts for two days. Saturday is the last day of the month of Av and Sunday is the first day of the month of Elul, and together they mark the beginning of a month-long period of reflection as we travel through the remaining days leading up to Rosh HaShanah, the New Year.

Summer is still with us, and the hot, humid days of August often carry thunderstorms, but already the nights are coming earlier. The warm days and the early evenings convey a sense of urgency, for we know that the cooler days of autumn are not far away. As we enjoy these days outdoors, we also know that the call of the shofar not far away. It is time to begin to prepare, to unpack, unearth, and explore, to be ready to engage with the One on the holiest days of the year. It is time for teshuvah, re-turn, return to the One, the Mystery, the Spirit.

To help us on this journey, we at Ma’yan Tikvah have again gathered from among ourselves and our friends a series of reflections for the month of Elul, divrei Earth – teachings that connect Earth and Torah – which we call “Earth Etudes for Elul.” Through the coming weeks, we will be posting Etudes on selected days of the month of Elul.

We invite you to join us for our occasional reflections on the journey through Elul.

by Rabbi Katy Z. Allen I teach a class called Loss & Transformation: Connecting Sacred Texts to Family Stories to Help Deal with Lo...

Ma'yan Tikvah - A Wellspring of Hope

Ma'yan Tikvah is a congregation without walls in Wayland, MA, that holds services outdoors year round. It is a place of hope and trust for those seeking a meaningful connection to Judaism through study, prayer, experiences of nature, care of the environment, and social justice. Founded and guided by Rabbi Katy Z. Allen, Ma'yan Tikvah provides a place to explore Judaism in an informal and inclusive setting.